Presidents of I.R of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan agreed to expand bilateral ties

H.E Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan met with H.E Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan in Tashkent on the sidelines of Meetings of the Heads of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on 22 June 2016.

Both the Presidents discussed the expansion of bilateral relations and the progress of regional projects.

The President of Turkmenistan invited the President of Afghanistan to visit Ashgabat in the coming months to inaugurate the Railroads and also to discuss the expansion of trade between the two countries.

The President of Turkmenistan said that during this visit both the countries will also sign the “Lapis Lazuli Trade and Transit Corridor Agreement”.

The President of Turkmenistan expressed his interest to travel to the provinces of Afghanistan where the TAPI Pipeline will pass.

The Afghan President said: Afghanistan is ready to implement this regional project.

The President of Turkmenistan said that its electricity export to Western Herat province increases and the Afghan President said that this will cause the expansion of the activities of factories and production in the province.

Afghan President noted that the imported electricity from Turkmenistan is used for domestic consumption and steps will be taken to export the Turkmen electricity to Pakistan.

The Presidents agreed that delegations from both countries shall meet and discuss better security measures of the TAPI pipeline.

The President of Turkmenistan said that his country intends to build a mosque in Aqina and a school in Andkhoy which was welcomed by the President of Afghanistan.

Both the sides agreed on cooperation in the field of carpet industry and its marketing.